Write On Rubee

An Arizona-based food, beverage and travel writer since 2008, I launched this website in 2015 to document my culinary adventures, beverage escapades, gardening endeavors, and travel in the Phoenix area and beyond. Also find a comprehensive calendar of Phoenix-area food and drink-related events on my Events page.

RUBEE TUESDAY: Spanish wine dinner at Arboleda, Hermosa Inn, Urban Agave, D&Y Chinese, Stetson Social

A weekly feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.

Wednesday, November 15: Arboleda (Scottsdale Quarter). Arboleda is one of our favorites, so when we were invited to attend their first wine dinner, there was no hesitation. The evening featured Emilio Moro winery from Ribera Del Duero in Spain with special guest Mario Moro.

Our main course was WorldClass Argentine ribeye with Calabrian chile butter, duck fat roasted potatoes and charred scallion - click the photo below to watch my video reel for a recap of our wonderful night.

Thursday, November 16: Hermosa Inn (Paradise Valley). We were invited to a party commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Lon Megarees' "The Last Drop from His Stetson" painting. The celebration included branded Stetson leather luggage tags, unveiling of the Inn’s gorgeous @pendletonwm blankets, a 56-year-old Last Drop whisky, and delicious bites from the new executive chef, Brian Peterson, whom I first met at the Arizona Biltmore,

Hermosa Inn executive chef Brian Peterson

Hermosa Inn executive chef Brian Peterson

Afterwards, we joined our friends Sean and Nicole Minor of Sean Minor Wines, who just happened to be in town and staying at the Hermosa Inn, for dinner at Lon’s.

Click on the photo below to see a video reel of the night’s festivities.

Friday, November 17: Urban Agave (Glendale). Another new spot comes to our neighborhood! We swung by the launch party for Urban Agave, owned by Sky Restaurant Concepts, owners of Squid Ink Sushi in Peoria and Highball Cocktail Bar in downtown Phoenix. We’ll be back to check it out for lunch or Happy Hour.

Afterwards, we hit our favorite West Valley Chinese restaurant, D&Y Chinese in Glendale, where I ordered favorites like qing chao dou miao, or stir-fried pea tendrils with garlic, and salt and pepper pork chop (and my husband’s usual order of Westlake soup, pork fried rice, and shrimp in lobster sauce).

Sunday, November 19: The Stetson Social (Peoria). We’d been looking forward to the opening of this new spot by our friend, restaurateur Mario Rana of Osteria Mia, and then it took us four months to finally carve out time for a visit. We love having a neighborhood wine bar serving global small plates so close to our house, and already have plans to return with mom and dad.

Highlights included muhammara (roasted red pepper and walnut dip), Spanish croquettes with jamón Serrano, and the double cheese burger.

Check back on next week’s Rubee Tuesday for an anniversary staycation at Andaz and visits to CRUjiente Tacos, Grey Hen at Century Grand, Avanti, Sunny’s Lounge/Say Less, Restaurant Progress, and Turquoise Wine Bar.

Last week’s recap featured visits to The Mexicano, the Arizona Biltmore, 36 Below, and Vecina.

RUBEE TUESDAY: The Mexicano, DAOU wine dinner at the Arizona Biltmore, 36 Below, Vecina

A weekly feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.

Steak fajitas with WorldClass Argentine beef marinated with lime juice, achiote, and chipotle chiles at The Mexicano

Friday, November 10: The Mexicano (Phoenix). Late lunch at one of our regular spots. Great to see Chef Fidencio (his new albondigas is a must-order!), and thanks to Will for giving me a sneak peek of a new cocktail made with Joey Maggiore’s exclusive barrel of Maestro Dobel tequila.

Chef Fidencio Alatriste of The Mexicano

Sunday, November 12: Renata’s Hearth at The Arizona Biltmore (Phoenix). I’ve been a fan of DAOU Vineyards (even more so after visiting their gorgeous tasting room during Paso Cab Camp 2023) and we were thrilled to be invited to a DAOU wine dinner at one of our favorite resorts.

The evening started with an al fresco reception with passed hors d'oeuvres and free-flowing DAOU rosé.

DAOU senior sales director Jorge Monroy introduced each pairing, while Renata’s Hearth executive chef Daniel Weber shared the story behind each of his fantastic dishes: Radicchio en Nogado with sherry walnut sauce (paired with Daou Vineyards Rosé), Wagyu beef tartare with chanterelle mushrooms and pimentón oil (Reserve Chardonnay), lobster with moqueca broth, farofa, and poblano potato pave (Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon), and Kahlua cake with coffee foam and smoked caramel (Soul of a Lion). To see more, click the photo below to watch my video Reel.

Tuesday, November 14: 36 Below (Phoenix). We joined our friend Abel Arriaga, founder of Compa Spirits, to sample our way through some of the new cocktails using the family-owned boutique spirits he sources throughout Mexico.

I included 36 Below in this A Taste of AZ round-up of some of my favorite cocktail bars, so it was no surprise that this trio were all winners:

Centauras - Diega Rosa gin (a Mexican gin infused with strawberry, lavender and rose petals), Campari, raspberry, rhubarb, and egg white.
The Jewel - Arette Blanco tequila, Origen 35 aged Oaxacan purple corn whiskey, AGWA coca leaf liqueur, bell pepper, and lime juice.
Draco - El Güel mezcal espadín, Jamaican rum, Luxardo Amaro Abano, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and oat milk.

Gabe Chavez of Quartz Bar in downtown Phoenix and Abel Arriaga of Compa Spirits at 36 Below

Afterwards, we headed to Vecina for dinner, where I started with another excellent craft cocktail. In keeping with the Compa Spirits theme, this one was also made with Origen 35 Cristalino whiskey (the name pays homage to the diversity of corn and the over 35 species found in Oaxaca), Angostura Amaro, orgeat, lemon, and mezcal.

Highlights included chicken karaage with aji amarillo, citrus gastrique, and togarashi; gambas al ajillo with local Wild Shrimp Co. shrimp, paprika-serrano-garlic butter, and Noble Bread; carnitas empanada with salsa verde; and skirt steak tacos with cascabel salsa and avocado relish.

Check back on next week’s Rubee Tuesday for a Spanish wine dinner at Arboleda and visits to Hermosa Inn, Urban Agave, D&Y Chinese, and Stetson Social.

RUBEE TUESDAY: Temecula Wine Dinner at Wrigley Mansion, Pyro, Prime, Mora Italian

A weekly feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.

Citrus and fennel-dusted tuna with WorldClass Caviaroli chili pearls, pickled parsnips, blood orange reduction, and butternut squash vinaigrette at Mora Italian

Friday, November 3: Wrigley Mansion (Phoenix). The wonderful folks from Temecula Winegrowers Association were back in town (I first met Devin Parr and the team here), and this time they hosted our group of wine and travel writers at the beautiful Wrigley Mansion.

Our private event began with sabering a bottle of bubbly before a wine tasting led by Samantha Capaldi of Samantha Sommelier, passed hors d'oeuvres with wine and bubbly, and this incredible tasting menu.

Afterwards, I joined the team for a kitchen tour led by David Brito, executive chef of Geordie's at Wrigley Mansion, and chef Vinh Nguyen, before a nightcap in Jamie’s Wine Bar.

Temecula is just a short 90-minute flight from Phoenix, and I fell in love with its excellent wines, beautiful tasting rooms, and welcoming community when I visited this past summer. I'm currently working on a few stories to spotlight the wineries, winemakers, restaurants, and activities, but for now, you can get a glimpse through my video reel - just click the photo below.

Saturday, November 4: PYRO Phoenix (The Grove). We were invited for a special Friends & Family preview before its official grand opening and were so impressed with everything about this stylish new spot - from the sleek decor to the delicious menu and warm and friendly service on such a busy night. The first restaurant to open at The Grove, a $400 million mixed-use development at 44th Street and Camelback Road, PYRO was brought to Phoenix by the Flagship Restaurant Group (founded in Omaha with 30+ restaurants across the country). PYRO introduces a brand-new concept to their stable of eateries - a chic Japanese bistro experience with a focus on live-fire and wood-grilled dishes.

We started with excellent cocktails - an Old Fashioned with plum wine and lapsang souchong black tea for my husband, and a Negroni (naturally) with Japanese gin and UME plum liqueur for me.

I would order any of these PYRO Phoenix dishes again, with my top three favorites being Ibérico pork skewers with pickled daikon and yuzu aioli, Dungeness crab noodles with Meyer lemon, crème fraîche, and smoked trout roe, and Branzino with pickled ginger shoots, Tokyo turnip & herb salad, and lemon-chili vinaigrette.

And so nice to see sommelier and GM Nisa Paris! Click the photo below for my video reel.

Monday, November 6: Prime at Gila River Resort and Casino - Wild Horse Pass (Chandler). Once again, the culinary and beverage team knocked it out of the park. This time, we were invited to experience Chef Michael Dei Maggi’s exquisite culinary pairings with Seven Apart, a Sonoma winery founded by Scottsdale resident Don Dady. Count me in as a new fan!

And, as always, no visit to Prime is complete without retiring to the bar to experience Camille’s cocktail talents.

Wednesday, November 8: Mora Italian (Phoenix). On Wednesday, we were invited to attend Scott Conant’s special autumnal dining experience, a one-night-only event featuring a special menu that showcased the fall flavors of pumpkin and squash.

Check back on next week’s Rubee Tuesday for visits to The Mexicano, a DAOU wine dinner at the Arizona Biltmore, 36 Below with Compa Spirits founder Abel Arriaga, and Vecina.

RUBEE TUESDAY: Bourbon and Bones Chophouse, Paul Martin's American Grill, Lom Wong, Arboleda

A weekly feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.

Friday, October 27: Bourbon & Bones Chophouse (Peoria). Back to our neighborhood Bourbon & Bones for old favorites (like beef carpaccio, French onion soup, filet with cheesy potatoes and creamed spinach) and new (fried pesto shrimp and ceviche).

Monday, October 30: Paul Martin’s American Grill (Scottsdale). Though the Scottsdale location of this steakhouse owned by Paul Fleming (developer of restaurants such as PF Chang’s, Fleming’s, and Pei Wei), has been around for more a decade, it was our first time. Thank you to the team for inviting us!

It’s easy to see why it’s so popular - cozy, warm vibe, friendly service, and a scratch seasonal menu featuring sustainable seafood and signature steaks grilled over mesquite wood. My top three favorites? Salt & pepper shrimp with pesto aioli, cheddar biscuits with thyme-honey butter, and the juicy blackened ribeye.

Wednesday, November 1: Lom Wong (downtown Phoenix). Mom and dad were craving Thai food so we were off to award-winning Lom Wong for another fantastic experience.

Tom Yum Haeng Sen Yai (rice noodle stir-fry with langoustines and tom yum sauce) at Lom Wong in downtown Phoenix

Our feast included:

  • Tom Yum Haeng Sen Yai (stir-fried wide rice noodles,WorldClass langoustines, tomatoes, straw mushrooms, and tom yum sauce)

  • Gai Tawt Won Pen (Won Pen's fried chicken)

  • Yam Mamuang Boran (green mango salad with shrimp and coconut cream)

  • Sai Ua Nam Prik Noom (charcoal-grilled Northern Thai sausage)

  • Bamee Haeng Mu Dang (egg noodles with char siu, bok choy, and crispy wontons)

  • Kaeng Phet Charinda (beef shank curry with makheua eggplantl)

  • Tom Yum and Roselle Creme Brulee

Thursday, November 2: Arboleda (Scottsdale Quarter). We were invited to a VIP Media Event to kick off patio season at Arboleda. If you’re caught up on my Rubee Tuesdays, you’ll see that I’ve mentioned Arboleda as a personal favorite many times, and now you’ll want to add it to your “best outdoor dining” list!

Greeted with bubbly and sangria at Arboleda in Scottsdale

Greeted with patatas bravas, bubbly, and sangria at Arboleda in Scottsdale

Check back on my next Rubee Tuesday for visits to Wrigley Mansion, Prime, Pyro, and Mora Italian.

Epicenter: Source, Belly, Buck & Rider, and UnderTow

In the November/December 2023 issue of Tasting Panel magazine, I shine a spotlight on Joe Johnston’s Epicenter in Gilbert, Arizona and four of its restaurants and cocktail lounges - Source, Buck & Rider, Belly Kitchen & Bar, and UnderTow Gilbert. You can read it in the digital issue of Tasting Panel on pages 130-133.

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